Pundalik Narayan Naik Goan is a great dramatist. He was hailed as the most distinguished Konkani author of the late twentieth century. He was born in 1952. Without any formal educational degree, he started work as a teacher, and then joined All India Radio, Panaji, as subeditor. He began his literary career in the Marathi language. In 1984 he chose to freelance as a writer and now lives on a farm in Goa. Although he has handled several genres, his pioneering contribution to Konkani theatre is the most significant. In a predominantly Anglicized-Westernized artistic community, his mastery of folk songs and indigenous theatrical elements, and understanding of the rural polyphony make him stand apart.
The majority of Naik`s structurally melodramatic plays focus on problems in Goan society, especially of the lower classes. Among his dozen full-length works, the shortest one was Chhappan thigali Yashwantrao or `Yashwantrao of the 56 Patches` in 1980. This one delineates the tragedy of a coolie at a bus stand. Suring or `Explosion` in 1982 depicts the conditions of road-construction labourers. His most controversial socio-political satire was Shabai shabi Balmjan Samaj or `The Masses` Society Cries` in 1986. Often, the titles of his plays express their themes. Some of the names can be mentioned as Raktakhev or `Incest`, Dayj or `Dowry`, Khan khan mati or `Dig the Soil`. This one was on the harsh life of Goan miners. Naik has paved new paths in the nascent Konkani theatre. In recognition, the anthology Chaurang or `Square Stool` in 1982 won him the Sahitya Akademi award. He has also written radio drama, for which he has won international prizes, and plays for children, among them Ransundari or `Beauty on the Battlefield` and Alsyak vag khalo or `The Tiger Ate the Lazy One`.
